Tārake — pānui o te Rāhoroi, 5 o Hepetema

Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te pānui o Tārake mō te Rāhoroi, te rima o Hepetema, rua mano rua tekau mā ono. Here are today's positive stories from across Aotearoa. Story 1. In environment. Mana Whenua Partner in Expanded Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi Flood Protection Project. Mana whenua are playing a central role in a $535.4 million infrastructure project to protect Lower Hutt communities and restore the mauri of the Te Awa Kairangi river.. On 4 September 2026, reports emerged regarding the significant expansion of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi, a critical flood protection and infrastructure programme in Lower Hutt. Formerly known as RiverLink, the project’s flood protection component has been revised to an estimated $535. 4 million. The initiative represents a significant partnership with mana whenua, who are deeply involved in decisions regarding the future of the river. According to the report, the collaboration ensures that the work addresses essential questions of whakapapa, kaitiakitanga, and the restoration of the health and mauri of the awa alongside urban protection. This story comes to us from Waatea News. Story 2. In leadership. Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono Calls for Intergenerational Leadership at Koroneihana 2026. Following attendance at Koroneihana, Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono is advocating for political leadership that prioritises the protection of whenua, people, and future generations across Aotearoa and the Pacific.. Speaking following the Koroneihana 2026 celebrations at Tūrangawaewae, Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono has called for a shift in political leadership to prioritise the long-term health of the environment and future generations. As reported by Waatea News on Friday, 4 September 2026, Tuiono attended the gathering of iwi to reflect on the challenges facing whānau and the importance of intergenerational responsibility. Tuiono, the Green Party spokesperson for social development and children, noted that the kaupapa of Koroneihana offered a vital contrast to standard political discourse. He emphasised that environmental protection should not be viewed as a portfolio competing with economic interests but as a fundamental responsibility to mokopuna. This story comes to us from Waatea News. Story 3. In environment. Kaitiakitanga in Action: Ngamotuaroha Trust Protects Motukawao Islands Sanctuary. The Ngamotuaroha Trust is upholding their role as kaitiaki by enforcing trespass notices to protect the pest-free Motukawao Islands sanctuary from unauthorized commercial landings and waste.. On the Motukawao Islands in the Hauraki Gulf, the Ngamotuaroha Trust is taking decisive steps to protect an ancestral sanctuary through the exercise of kaitiakitanga. According to a report by Te Ao Māori News on Friday, 28 August 2026, the Trust has issued a formal two-year trespass notice to Anglers Lodge Coromandel Limited following ongoing issues with unauthorized visitor landings and the presence of human waste and equipment on the private Māori land. Trustee Kylie Turoa told Te Ao Māori News that the 11 islands are a vital sanctuary for regenerating native bush and seabird breeding grounds, including gannets. The Trust previously secured $832,100 in Jobs for Nature funding to transform the islands into a pest-free environment. This story comes to us from Te Ao Māori News. Story 4. In environment. Rugby League Legend Tāwera Nikau Advocates for Taonga Species at National Hui. Former Kiwi international Tāwera Nikau is leading the charge for environmental restoration, highlighting the urgent need to protect over 3,700 of Aotearoa’s threatened native species.. Former rugby league international Tāwera Nikau has transitioned from the sporting arena to the front lines of environmental conservation, taking up a vital role in protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s threatened taonga species. Speaking with Dale Husband on Radio Waatea on Friday, 4 September 2026, Nikau shared insights from the recently held Endangered Species National Hui in Kirikiriroa. The event brought together iwi leaders, scientists, and rangatahi to address the confronting reality that nearly 4,000 native species are currently classified as threatened or at risk. As the co-chair of Tāngaro Tuia te Ora, the Endangered Species Foundation, Nikau is championing a restoration model that places mātauranga Māori at its heart. This story comes to us from Waatea News. Story 5. In business. Māori-led skills training proposal aims to revitalise trades pathways. A proposed $21 million annual investment in Māori-led trades training seeks to address a 15-year low in apprenticeships by connecting iwi and marae-led programmes directly with employers.. A significant new push for Māori-led vocational training is being welcomed as a vital step toward rebuilding employment pathways in Aotearoa. As reported by Waatea News on Friday, 4 September 2026, a proposed $21 million annual investment aims to empower iwi, marae, and Māori providers to design training programmes that meet the specific workforce needs of their own communities. The proposal comes at a critical time for the sector. Data from Education Counts reveals that apprenticeship participation fell by 14 percent during 2025, reaching a 15-year low of 59,720 learners. This story comes to us from Waatea News. Story 6. In business. Government Investment Backs Māori Enterprise Growth from Geothermal Energy to Export Orchards. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has announced a $3.4 million investment through the Māori Development Fund to support job creation and export growth for Māori-led businesses.. On Friday, 4 September 2026, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced that more than $3. 4 million from the Māori Development Fund (MDF) is being invested into three Māori enterprises to drive regional prosperity and export growth. The funding targets diverse sectors, including renewable energy, horticulture, and premium viticulture, as part of the Government’s wider economic growth plan. At Mōkai, Halcyon Power has received $865,000 to advance green hydrogen production. A joint venture between Tūaropaki Trust and Japan’s Obayashi Corporation, the company utilizes renewable geothermal energy for its operations. Having already successfully shipped hydrogen to Fiji, the firm is now focusing on expansion into the Singapore market. This story comes to us from the Beehive. That's the pānui for today. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa — thank you for listening to Tārake. Haere rā.